HARTFORD — Work began this week to rebuild three Keney Park basketball courts, city officials said.

City architect Antonio Matta said the project, aided by a $20,000 grant from the national Parks Build Community initiative, is part of an $825,000 city effort this year to refurbish athletic courts across Hartford, from the Elizabeth Park tennis courts to the handball courts at Colt and Keney parks.

Hartford contractor Capital Restoration is performing the renovations, including the $86,500 overhaul of the Keney basketball courts that started Monday with workers digging up the hard surface, Matta said.

Two of the Keney courts, south of the park's swimming pools, had mounds of gravel Thursday where there would normally be three-point lines. A third court with rusty, graffiti-tagged backboards was covered with rocks. Signs notified visitors that the courts will be out of service until Aug. 10.

The work will include regrading the courts and installing new backboards and hoops in time for Keney Park's annual Family Day festivities in mid-August, Matta said.

The Parks Build Community grant — a parks improvement initiative through the National Recreation and Park Association and supported by corporate partners such as Disney and ESPN — came with a people's choice contest in April.

Keney Park Basketball Courts

Vanessa de la Torre

One of three Keney Park basketball courts being restored with city funds and a $20,000 park improvement grant.

One of three Keney Park basketball courts being restored with city funds and a $20,000 park improvement grant.

"We like $20,000," Matta said Thursday. "I'm glad we got the grant. It helps us get more done."

Mayor Pedro Segarra added in a statement that "the grant will go a long way in improving three highly-utilized basketball courts, promoting outdoor physical activity among our residents and fostering a sense of community."